L1A1 Jungle brush foresight cover

[mrclark303]

Hi all,

Question, regarding the so called jungle brush foresight cover, was it ever an actual issued item, or only a trialed piece?

I had an idea (dangerous) to covert a standard foresight protector to make a copy of it for the collection, if I could see clear pics to copy

Cheers John

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Aussie48]

British Army issue, spring steel protective covers for the foresight of the 7.62mm L1A1 SLR.

Originally a ceremonial item to prevent the rifle snagging clothing when performing arms drill, these were often hijacked by marksmen and shooting teams to protect the foresight when the rifle was not in use.

NATO Stock Number B1/1005-99-960-3110.

If you want a picture go here DS Solutions Militaria | Small Arms Parts & Accessories

Dick

[Peter Laidler]

That thing was a strange item and nobody ever really understood why it was issued. We know it was for drill and ceremonial but......... The rounded foresight protectors and gas plug weren't the problem at all. What WAS the problem was when 'shoulder arms' was given and then your hand was UNDER the foresight protectors with the fleshy part between thumb and fore-finger astride the ragged edge of the gas regulator and the protector thing didn't cure that. In fact, it just exasperated the situation because it had a sharp edge at the rear! It was THAT that cut or grazed your hand! It was said that the foresight blade was snagging your dress uniform. But how remains a mystery because the blade is protected by the......... er.......... foresight protector. Nope, nobody never really understood it. One good suggestion that came from the Small Arms School was that if the blade was damaging dress uniform, then get rid of dress uniform!

It was really like those other bits of nonsensical bits of kit that find their way into the system like...... foresight cramps and extractor removal tools. At my last place the tech. storeman had huge boxes of these 'protectors that protect the protectors' on his shelf and didn't really know what to do with them as nobody ever asked for one! I told him that there was very little chance of ever dishing them out - because the L1A1 had long gone and as it was 2003, we were in the era of the L85A2!

[mrclark303]

Thanks guys, I counted 10 of these things in my spares box! The "jungle deflector, looks very similar to the standard protector, but the sight is open with sprung tabs at the rear and it just covers the gas plug, the idea to stop the rifle snagging in heavy jungle.

I have never seen one, found a picture on page 14 of the 1959 L1A1 Handbook. On my phone at the moment and can't figure out how to add pics on the mobile site.

I figured it can't be beyond the wit of man to make one from a sight cover/protector.

[mrclark303]

Here it is chaps ...

Attachment 84672

[Aussie48]

OMG what an abomination a sure way to snag the sights for sure. We never had any type of sight protector in the Australian Army and the drill was obviously different. The rifle was held by the thumb (left side) and the 4 fingers (right side) over the top of the fore sight and the rifle was flicked up into the shoulder. The only thing you had to be careful off was that if bayonet was fixed you didn't spear the rim of your slouch hat and if an Arm you didn't snag your lanyard.

Dick

[22SqnRAE]

The only thing you had to be careful off was that if bayonet was fixed you didn't spear the rim of your slouch hat and if an Arm you didn't snag your lanyard.

Dick

It's a valid point, Dick. Aussie drill must be significantly different from UK drill. As I recall little threat of injury the SLR shouldering, even after 2 hours in Can'tberra's minus 4 through to 4 degrees between 0700 and 0900, weeks on end.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Then there were the "protective" caps to cover the tips of the bayonets. Nice little chrome-plated numbers, they were used by the "Escort to the Colours", so that, when the colours ( unit, etc. "flags"), were unfurled, a breeze would not cause them to be damaged by being dragged over a bayonet tip.

During one such parade, one of my fairly tall fellow diggers could have used one in the main parade body. When he vigorously hoisted his L1A1, complete with bayonet, into the "shoulder arms" position, that's exactly where it went, straight into his armpit. Lots of not-quite muted intemperate language, a bit of blood and a dropped rifle rapidly followed. A certain amount of barely-stifled mirth, mixed with dismay at such a thing, could be detected from those nearby. Quick work by a couple of platoon sergeants saved the day. Sometimes it pays to be "at the back of the bus".

[browningautorifle]

Usually the only injury would be during the full arm's dressing...if arms were used. The occasional hand would get gashed by a bayonet point. There were instances of torn uniform shoulders from the tip of an exceptionally sharp blade, but most were dulled as per DP.

[nzl1a1collector]

The original device was given the designation: DEFLECTOR, 7.62 mm rifle, L1A1. NSN 1005-99-960-2456 It was created circa 1959 due to the probable issues with vines and shrubbery getting caught between the barrel and underside of the gas plug causing the solider to drop, or discharge the rifle while carrying it in the jungles of Borneo and Malaya. This is probably why the deflector was seldom seen in England, it probably spent its time in a store in the FARELF

The one commonly known for Parade/Ceremonial purposes is designated COVER, Foresight, 7.62 mm rifle, Mk. 1. NSN 1005-99-960-3110

I've only ever seen 1 real deflector and that is fitted to a rifle at the Lithgow Museum, the rifle is also fitted with the experimental BSA Flash Eliminator / Muzzle Brake.